NATIONAL NEWS from Surf 102.5 FM - Friday 19 May 2023

The MOVE FORWARD-LED coalition has expanded to include eight partners, comprising a total of 313 MPs. The coalition, has tentatively formed a government and has unanimously agreed to support Mr. Pita as the prime minister, following last Sundays General election.

However, Mr. Pita still requires a minimum of 63 additional votes from lawmakers in either the House of Representatives or the Senate for him to assume the position of prime minister.

Three former MPs of the Bhumjaithai party were sentenced to nine months in prison yesterday, after they were found guilty of allowing their colleagues to use their voting cards in January 2020 during a parliamentary debate on the budget bill.

The court also dismissed them from political office and stripped them of their rights to contest elections and to vote in elections for life.

A 15-year-old girl who had spent 50 days in detention on a charge of royal defamation walked free yesterday afternoon after a court ordered her release, according to Thai Lawyers for Human Rights.

The young girl known as Yok had been held since 29th March at a Juvenile Vocational Training Center for Girls in Nakhon Pathom. There was concern as she She appeared with a series of severe rashes on her back and body during her time in detention.

Around the region….

Vietnam yesterday criticized recent behavior of a Chinese research ship and the actions of the Philippines coast guard in the South China Sea. Vietnam accused both its neighboring countries of engaging in separate activities that infringed upon its sovereign rights. Chinese and Vietnamese vessels confronted each other on multiple occasions in recent days as a Chinese research ship moved within Hanoi's Exclusive Economic Zone.

Australia is set to provide drones, training and other related technology to the Philippine Coast Guard to beef up its border protection capabilities, as China steps up its military presence in the disputed South China Sea.

The weather: 

Chiang Mai and the north:  Sunny 37C                    
Bangkok:  Sunny 39C. 
Pattaya,  sunny partly cloudy,  35,
Phuket and the south:  Bright 

becoming cloudy  with thundershowers 32C                                                                                               
and.. 
‘Hua Hin’ : Bright sunny partly cloudy,  35,

Credits: Bangkok Post, The Nation, Asean Now, Khaosod English,  Hua Hin Today, Royal Coast Review, Kulsawek Sawekwannakorn, Thainewsroom.com, The Pattaya News, Phuket News, Channel News Asia, South China Morning Post, The Straits Times. The Irrawaddy. Windy.com. Wunderground.com

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